In partnership with The World Wide Fund for Nature(WWF), in April 2021 donated 100 beehives, metallic stands, 2 honey processors and chain-link material for fencing, 2 bee catchers, and 20 harvesting suits. On its part, Gamewatchers Safaris and Porini camps provided the groups with training in modern beekeeping through Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association(KWCA). The Ol Kinyei conservancy Warden and Community Liaison Person selected 9 Women/youth groups who received 11 beehives to start beekeeping and honey production around the Ol Kinyei conservancy.
The project has since expanded to Amboseli with contributions to the Olanti & Iltuleta communities by The Guardian Project – Rita & Jeff Rayman of 2 bee-keeping start-ups with 20 hives, 4 suits, smokers and training.
The project aims to empower the youth and women and raise conservation awareness while generating an alternative income for the group hence improving livelihoods and conserving bees at the same time.
The bee keeping project is envisioned to save the local communities as much as US$200 per year per family in re- current expenses.
The donation received from WWF supports the long-term goals of Gamewatchers Safaris & Ol Kinyei conservancy for sustainability, wildlife conservation, habitat protection and improving community livelihoods. The project is focused on sustainable, scalable development that empowers an ever-increasing number of local communities with income-generation and food security.
The conservancy management teams in Ol kinyei and Selenkay supervised the distribution, installation of beehives and conducted an introduction to modern bee keeping to the groups.
Follow ups are made to ensure the project implementation is a success and boosts livelihood. Besides, to ensure success and sustainability of the project, the youth/women groups signed commitment agreement and will be required to:
- Run the beekeeping project
- Undertake a bee keeping and hive management training
- Shall raise the beehives’ stands above the ground to minimize ants and honey badgers attacks
- Manage the beehives, honey harvesting, process the honey, purchase honey jars and packaging
- Honey selling, first priority given to Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Safari Camps
- Write quarterly reports for updates to Gamewatchers/Porini/Ol Kinyei Conservancy
- Group members shall provide security to the beehives
- The trained youth/women shall become Trainers Of Trainers (TOT) to develop capacity in bee keeping
